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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. can — to be able to
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. stand — to bear
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. current — happening now
  16. track — a path
  17. deal — to handle
  18. track — to keep track
  19. current — of water
  20. track — a song
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com